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Patented-Sept. 20, I898.

J. F. MGELBOY.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

(Application filed Jan 9 1898.)

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.1. F. McELROY.

ELECTRIC COUPLING. (Applichtion filed Jan. 9, 1896.)

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J. F. MCELHUY.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1896.)

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\ ATENT JAMES F. MCELROY, OF ALBANY, NEYV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONSOLI-DATED CAR-HEATING COMPANY, OF SAME'PLACE.

ELECTRICPCOUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters me a 1\ o.6l1, OO, dated September20, 1898.

Application filed January 9, 1896,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MGELROY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Albany, State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Device in Electric Couplers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for connecting cables used for thetransmission of electricity; and the object of my invent-ion is toprovide a coupler peculiarly adapted for use in railway-trains for thepurpose of coupling the electric cables supplying heat or light to atrain when the cars are brought together to make up the train and toseparate said cables by means of the coupler when the cars areseparated.

I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a section of two cars withparts broken away, showing my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation.Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line 1 1 011 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa section along the line 2 2 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of thecoupler-handles and connectingcable. Fig. 6 is a modificationof thefinger to which the coupling is attached. Fig. 7 is a modified form ofthe coupling, shown partly in section, in which onefinger is usedinstead of two in the block. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. '7, andFigs. 9 and 10 are modified forms of the connecting-cylinder.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The block A, preferably of wood, is provided with two bored openings BG, extending therethrough, with a cap D placed in the rear of saidopenings, said cap provided with a metallic plate P, extending into saidopenings O and B, respectively, to each of which metallic plates issecured a compressible finger E, said finger preferably provided withtwo slots at right angles, or nearly so, to each other and extendingwell into the shank of the finger for the purpose of allowing the fingerto contract toward its center upon pressure being applied to its sides.The head of said finger is bulb-shaped and provided with projectingsides 6. Through the cap D, Iarrange an opening for the passage of acable Serial in. 574,903. on model.)

F, which cable is stationary within the car. I place a metallic block Gwithin the opening through the cap D, through which the cable F passesand which block G is preferably arranged with threads along its side tomesh with threads along the sides of an opening in plate P, adjacent tothe block G aforesaid, and the wires of which the cable is composed areusually drawn out and separated from each other in such a manner as tobe brought into contact with the block G at vari ous points, as shown inFig. 3. I arrange a similar construction upon each of the adjoiningcars, and for the purpose of connecting them I attach to a short cableII at each end a handle J, said handle provided with ametallic cylinderor core K, secured within an opening in one end thereof,wl1ich cylinderis preferably provided with screw-threads along a portion of its side toengage with threads in the inner surface of said opening. The cable IIpasses through the handle J, connecting with the cylinder or core K, thecable being preferably separated -as the cable F in its connection withthe block G. The cylinder K is adapted to fit over the finger E and bycompressing said finger allow the finger to be inserted within thecylinder until it reaches a point at which a groove 76 is cut in thecylinder, allowing for the expansion of the finger, causing the sidepieces e of the bulb at the end of the finger to fit within said groove70, thus retaining the handle in position.

It is apparent that the electric current from the cable F, entering theblock through the cap D, distributes its electricity through the plate Bto the fingers E E, and when the handle J is in connection with one ofthese fingers the current passes therefrom to the metallic cylinder K,through the cable II, through the handle on the end of the cable to thecable in the adjoining car.

When it is desired to separate the cars, the handle .I may be drawn awayfrom the finger E of the block on one car and placed upon the fingerattached to the same block, as is shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines.

I usually secure the blocks A to the hood L L of the car M M; buttheymay be placed in any desired position for the purpose of performingthe desired results.

I show modifications of the finger and cylinder by which the connectionsare made in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, theprojecting ring 3 on the finger may be near the base of the fingeradapted to engage with a corresponding ring 4 on the cylinder, as shownin Fig. 10, or the device illustrated in Fig. 7 may be used inconnection with the cylinder shown in Fig. 9. The blocks may be madewith but one finger in each instead of two, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and4. It is apparent that other modifications may be suggested, which wouldnot alter the invention.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. An electric coupling device consisting of two members each of whichis connected to a conductor, one of said members carrying a fingermounted in an opening formed in insulating material, said fingerdepressed below the ends of the insulating material said finger beingelectrically connected to the conductor, the opposite member beingprovided with the external insulating-wall and an internal metallic coreelectrically connected to the conductor, said insulating-wall extendingbeyond said core said core being adapted to engage with the finger ofthe opposite member, substantially in the manner and for the purpose setforth.

2. In an electric coupling device, the combination of two members, eachmember being formed with an external insulating-wall, one of saidmembers carrying an internal contactfinger electrically connected withthe conductor, the end of said finger being below the mouth of theexternal wall, the opposite member being adapted to enter within thewall of the first-named member and carrying within and protected by itsinsulating-wall an internal metallic core electrically connected to thecorresponding conductor and adapted to fit over and form an electriccontact with the finger of the first-mentioned member,substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electric coupling device, a coupling-section composed of aflexible insulated conducting-wire provided with an insulatinghandle ateach end, a metallic core within the opening in said handle, each corebeing electrically connected with the insulating conducting wire andadapted to engage an electricallyinsulated companion member upon thefixed conducting-wire, substantially as set forth and for the purposespecified.

4:. An electric coupling device for railwaycars, consisting of terminalpieces 011 the ends of the electrical conductors of said cars to beconnected, a flexible section to connect said terminal pieces, andinsulated couplings upon either end of said flexible section, adapted toengage said terminal pieces, said couplings being constructed withexternal insulated walls and internal metallic contact parts, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electric coupling, the combination of two companion terminals,one carrying an external insulating cup-shaped wall, having therein aninternal contact-finger, the end of which is depressed below the mouthof the external wall, the companion coupler being composed of theexternal cup-shaped insulatin g wall, having therein an internalcupshaped metallic core, the end of which is depressed below the mouthof the external wall electrically connected to the conductor and adaptedto elastically engage the finger in the opposite or companioncoupler-section, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

6. In an electric coupler, a block provided with two openings, ametallic plate secured within each of said openings, a metallic fingersecured to each of said plates, a means for connecting said plates witha stationary core, a connecting-cable provided with a handle containinga metallic cylinder adapted to fit upon said finger, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

7. An electric coupling device, consisting of two members, each of whichis connected to a conductor, each of said members consisting of acup-shaped insulating-handle of insulating material, an internalmetallic core protected by said insulating material,so arranged thatelectrical connection cannot be made except through the opening in saidcup-shaped insulating material, substantially as described and for thepurpose set forth.

JAMES F. MCELROY.

Witnesses:

II. J. NoDINn, MARY AGNES BURKE.

